Keeping your baby safe while sleeping

Summer Mueller becomes emotional as she describes the circumstances of the death of her son, Parker Abbott, at her home in Summerfield on Thursday, Nov. 14, 2013. Parker was two weeks and two days old when he died on Feb. 9, 2013. Mueller said that she was breast feeding her infant son in bed early that morning and that she accidentally fell asleep while breast feeding him. When she woke up at about 6 a.m. that morning, he was still in bed with her and she discovered that he was not breathing. "I tried to do CPR on him and we called the paramedics right way and they came really fast," Mueller said. "I thought that he would make it because he was still warm. But they told me that he didn't make it," she said. Parker died of positional asphyxiation.

On Jan. 24, Mueller gave birth to a son, Parker. By the end of that month she and her family were moving into their new home in Summerfield.

With a new baby, tending to her other children and getting settled into a new house, Mueller, 32, had her hands full.

About 3:30 a.m. on Feb. 9, a Saturday, Mueller was lying in bed breast feeding Parker. Though Parker's bassinet was next to the bed, Mueller was tired and fell asleep with her son's face turned toward her. She woke up around 6 a.m., checked on the infant, and discovered he was not breathing.

A frantic Mueller called 911 and performed CPR on Parker. An ambulance arrived and emergency workers rushed the baby to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

"I want all parents to know the risk of sleeping with your baby," said a teary-eyed Mueller, glancing at her son's photograph on a table in her home.

Mueller said she wants to share her "horrible experience with everyone" about the dangers of parents sleeping with their young children. And she is not alone.

Florida government agencies, state officials, nonprofit organizations and first responders have teamed to expand the Safe Sleep campaign to help prevent these types of deaths. The campaign will provide multiple programs, such as free online training, classes, materials and portable cribs.

According to the Department of Children and Families, since January there have been 128 reports statewide of babies dying in unsafe sleep situations.

Krissy Howell, the Success By 6 manager for The Early Learning Coalition of Marion County, said that since 2008, Marion County has been in the top 10 in the state in the number of unsafe sleeping deaths. There were six reported deaths in 2012. This year, four have been reported. Of the 10 deaths, nine were caused by suffocation, Howell said.

Mueller said the cause of death for her son was "position asphyxiation."

Debra Wise, director of prevention services at Kids Central, said her social services organization offers a program where parents, caregivers and anyone taking care of a young child can take classes on topics such as safe sleeping practices and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.

Included in the statewide Safe Sleep initiative is an appeal for people and organizations to donate Pack 'n Play-style portable cribs, including locally.

Wise said the portable cribs are flexible and easy to carry around, making it easier for them to be used in teaching classes and also for families who are traveling.

Wise said anyone is eligible to take the Safe Sleep class through her organization. To be eligible for a portable crib, a client must have a child younger than 1 or be in the third trimester of pregnancy, and meet a certain income criteria. If a client is unable to attend class because he or she does not have transportation, Wise said employees will go to private homes to teach the class.

Wise said that since 2008, Kids Central also has been providing funding for the Early Learning Coalition to provide portable cribs and a location for training parents about safe sleeping.

Since beginning in Marion County in 2009, the program has been expanded to Sumter, Citrus, Hernando and Lake counties, she said.

The DCF website MyFLFamilies.com/SafeSleep states that "Babies sleep safest alone on their backs in a crib."

Authorities on the subject say all cribs should be kept clear of items such as blankets, pillows, stuffed animals, toys or anything that can hamper a child's airway.

Officials recommend not sleeping with a child, as the risk of rolling onto them or pinning them is too great. Recommendations also include giving a baby a pacifier, never a bottle, when he or she goes to sleep, as they might choke on the fluid.

Wise said while it is widely known that sleeping with a young child poses a terrible risk, education is the key to make sure the message sticks with parents.

"They may have the Pack 'n Play, but you have to use it," she said. "It's better to have the child in a crib than beside you."

Portable cribs can be donated locally at the Ocala Police Department headquarters and through the Marion County Sheriff's Office headquarters and its district offices. They will be distributed to low-income families through Healthy Start or child abuse investigators.

Donna Guinn, a victim's advocate with the Ocala Police Department, said the portable cribs are very cost effective for many families.

At least one local civic club has been involved in the initiative. According to Scott Mitchell, president of the Kiwanis Club of Ocala, the club began partnering in 2010 with the Early Learning Coalition to purchase and distribute Pack 'n Play cribs to families with infants. He said the club provided 200 cribs to local families last year.

As the campaign continues to grow, Mueller said she plans to keep working with Wise and "anyone else" to showcase her message so others won't feel her family's sorrow.

<p>Leading up to the morning of Feb. 9, Summer Mueller's life was hectic.</p><p>On Jan. 24, Mueller gave birth to a son, Parker. By the end of that month she and her family were moving into their new home in Summerfield.</p><p>With a new baby, tending to her other children and getting settled into a new house, Mueller, 32, had her hands full.</p><p>About 3:30 a.m. on Feb. 9, a Saturday, Mueller was lying in bed breast feeding Parker. Though Parker's bassinet was next to the bed, Mueller was tired and fell asleep with her son's face turned toward her. She woke up around 6 a.m., checked on the infant, and discovered he was not breathing.</p><p>A frantic Mueller called 911 and performed CPR on Parker. An ambulance arrived and emergency workers rushed the baby to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead.</p><p>"I want all parents to know the risk of sleeping with your baby," said a teary-eyed Mueller, glancing at her son's photograph on a table in her home.</p><p>Mueller said she wants to share her "horrible experience with everyone" about the dangers of parents sleeping with their young children. And she is not alone.</p><p>Florida government agencies, state officials, nonprofit organizations and first responders have teamed to expand the Safe Sleep campaign to help prevent these types of deaths. The campaign will provide multiple programs, such as free online training, classes, materials and portable cribs.</p><p>According to the Department of Children and Families, since January there have been 128 reports statewide of babies dying in unsafe sleep situations.</p><p>Krissy Howell, the Success By 6 manager for The Early Learning Coalition of Marion County, said that since 2008, Marion County has been in the top 10 in the state in the number of unsafe sleeping deaths. There were six reported deaths in 2012. This year, four have been reported. Of the 10 deaths, nine were caused by suffocation, Howell said.</p><p>Mueller said the cause of death for her son was "position asphyxiation."</p><p>Debra Wise, director of prevention services at Kids Central, said her social services organization offers a program where parents, caregivers and anyone taking care of a young child can take classes on topics such as safe sleeping practices and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.</p><p>Included in the statewide Safe Sleep initiative is an appeal for people and organizations to donate Pack 'n Play-style portable cribs, including locally.</p><p>Wise said the portable cribs are flexible and easy to carry around, making it easier for them to be used in teaching classes and also for families who are traveling.</p><p>Wise said anyone is eligible to take the Safe Sleep class through her organization. To be eligible for a portable crib, a client must have a child younger than 1 or be in the third trimester of pregnancy, and meet a certain income criteria. If a client is unable to attend class because he or she does not have transportation, Wise said employees will go to private homes to teach the class.</p><p>Wise said that since 2008, Kids Central also has been providing funding for the Early Learning Coalition to provide portable cribs and a location for training parents about safe sleeping.</p><p>Since beginning in Marion County in 2009, the program has been expanded to Sumter, Citrus, Hernando and Lake counties, she said.</p><p>The DCF website MyFLFamilies.com/SafeSleep states that "Babies sleep safest alone on their backs in a crib."</p><p>Authorities on the subject say all cribs should be kept clear of items such as blankets, pillows, stuffed animals, toys or anything that can hamper a child's airway.</p><p>Officials recommend not sleeping with a child, as the risk of rolling onto them or pinning them is too great. Recommendations also include giving a baby a pacifier, never a bottle, when he or she goes to sleep, as they might choke on the fluid.</p><p>Wise said while it is widely known that sleeping with a young child poses a terrible risk, education is the key to make sure the message sticks with parents.</p><p>"They may have the Pack 'n Play, but you have to use it," she said. "It's better to have the child in a crib than beside you."</p><p>Portable cribs can be donated locally at the Ocala Police Department headquarters and through the Marion County Sheriff's Office headquarters and its district offices. They will be distributed to low-income families through Healthy Start or child abuse investigators.</p><p>Donna Guinn, a victim's advocate with the Ocala Police Department, said the portable cribs are very cost effective for many families.</p><p>At least one local civic club has been involved in the initiative. According to Scott Mitchell, president of the Kiwanis Club of Ocala, the club began partnering in 2010 with the Early Learning Coalition to purchase and distribute Pack 'n Play cribs to families with infants. He said the club provided 200 cribs to local families last year.</p><p>As the campaign continues to grow, Mueller said she plans to keep working with Wise and "anyone else" to showcase her message so others won't feel her family's sorrow.</p><p>"I want to get the word out," she said.</p><p><i>Contact Austin L. Miller at 867-4118 or austin.miller@starbanner.com.</i></p>